Health Affairs

Health Affairs is the leading journal of health policy thought and research. The peer-reviewed journal was founded in 1981 under the aegis of Project HOPE and is led by the journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Alan Weil. Health Affairs explores health policy issues of current concern in domestic and international spheres. Its mission is to serve as a high-level, nonpartisan forum to promote analysis and discussion on improving health and health care, and to address such issues as cost, quality, and access.

The journal reaches a broad audience that includes: government and health industry leaders; health care advocates; scholars of health, health care and health policy; and others concerned with health and health care issues in the United States and worldwide.

Health Affairs articles are cited by U.S. administration officials, U.S. lawmakers, and ministry of health leaders around the globe. Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle reference Health Affairs in drafting legislation. US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts cited the journal in his decision regarding the Affordable Care Act. In addition, Health Affairs is frequently cited by national media, including the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, network television and radio, and NPR.

The journal is published monthly and available through a subscription.

In addition to a subscription to the journal, Health Affairs offers a membership option, Health Affairs Insider. Insider includes entry to a growing portfolio of virtual events, exclusive news from Health Affairs, curated email newsletters on priority health topics, a special gift for joining and one every year you renew, and more.

Health Affairs also publishes Health Affairs Forefront, a robust digital publication that serves as a vehicle for commentary and analysis on health policy and issues affecting health and health care. Health Affairs Forefront features posts from noted health policy experts and commentators from a wide variety of perspectives, as well as regular Health Affairs contributors and staff.

Health Policy Briefs examine some of the most complex and thorny questions currently being debated in health policy, providing a clear, comprehensive, and impartial overview that anyone can use to quickly get up to speed.

Health Affairs produces four podcasts, including A Health Podyssey and Health Affairs This Week. A Health Podyssey goes beyond the pages of Health Affairs to tell stories behind the research and share policy implications. Health Affairs This Week places listeners at the center of health policy’s proverbial water cooler. Each week, Health Affairs’ trusted editors—sometimes with help from special guests and thought leaders—discuss the week’s most pressing health policy news.

With events, Health Affairs brings together a diverse audience from the public and private sectors, academia, and media to share insightful conversations on the latest policy topics affecting health care today. In addition to our virtual series of events like Policy Spotlight, Lunch & Learn, Professional Development, and Journal Club, Health Affairs hosts Briefings and other funded events, which highlight the best material from the journal’s thematic issues and topics of interest to top health care policy makers, clinicians, and researchers, for more than a decade.

In 2021, Health Affairs launched two new fellowship programs: the Health Equity Fellowship for Trainees (HEFT) and the Podcast Fellowship program. These fellowship programs provide multi-layered mentorship to early-career researchers.

To stay up to date with Health Affairs, sign up for newsletters including Health Affairs Today, Health Affairs Sunday Update, and additional newsletters on events, announcements, and more.